I am having a difficult time putting into words just how special this is to me and Stu. Allow me a moment to ramble.

About a year after I graduated from FSU, I bought a townhouse. Stu and I have a lot of awesome memories wrapped up in that townhouse. Stu moved in when we got hitched. It was the house we brought both of our babies home to when they were born.

Baby Reagan

Baby Reagan

Baby Buddy

Reagan bringing home her baby bro.

We made some choices that sent us in a downward spin.

We have moved around town several times. After the townhouse, we moved to a larger townhouse in Abacoa for a bit. It was here that Reagan started school. She posed at the front door for her first day of WOW (3 year old program).

Rea's first day. What a cutie!

After nearly 2 years, we moved out of Abacoa and into my parents' house. Around this time, the financial pressure of the original townhouse (and second equity line) was killing us. We needed to sell the townhouse. But, we were upside down too much. We made the decision to short sell. This was going to kill our credit, nearly destroy our marriage, test our endurance capacity and expand our waistlines.

We moved again. This was the first house we lived in (not counting my parents' house). I LOVED it.

We lived in this house for two years. One month before our lease was up, we closed the short sale on our first townhouse. It took years - if you've been counting, nearly 6 - to reach the closing table. I cried in the parking lot. Signing the townhouse away was harder for me than I thought it would be. Like I said before, I had years of good memories there. It was my first big-girl purchase.

But more than the sadness of the saying good-bye, it felt like an ENORMOUS weight had been lifted off of us.

After a short sale, one must wait for several years before trying to buy another house. So, we moved back in with my parents (thank God for them). During this time, we tried fervently and fruitlessly to get decent jobs in (any) other state. No doors opened - not even a cat door.

All of that, brings us to today. As I am writing this, it is one week before we close. As you are reading this, we have already signed on the dotted line.

I cannot help but see the light at the end of this 5+ year tunnel. There is a strange feeling in my chest... I think it's optimism and excitement.

For us, this is more than just a house. This is peace. This is comfort. This is home.